Start Making Homemade Vanilla for Christmas!

About a year ago, I told you about my vodka buying adventures. Fun times. It’s always neat to be carded when you’re in your 30’s. I was so honored. And also embarrassed. Hey, I was buying an entire gallon of vodka at one time. I looked like I was going a little overboard. Like a crazy lady who took her four children to the store with her at nine o’clock in the morning to buy a gallon of booze.

I know it’s a little bit early to be thinking about Christmas. Never mind – it’s never to early to be thinking about Christmas gifts. Starting now and planning ahead can save a lot of money. That’s why I’m writing this little post.

It takes six months to make good, strong homemade vanilla. If you’d like to give homemade vanilla to family and friends this Christmas…you’ll need to purchase vanilla beans and start making your vanilla soon! If you get all of your supplies in order now and get the vanilla started in June, you’ll be all set for Christmas!

Comments

I have to say I disagree on the vodka. I have been homemade vanilla several times now. The first time I used cheap vodka and the other times I have used something a little more expensive. The vanilla with the more expensive vodka was so much better. It really did make a difference. Now I did not buy really expensive vodka,it just was not the cheapest I could find.

I’ve made homemade vanilla three times now using three different vodka brands. Absolute, Smirnoff, and Kamchatka. I thought the Smirnoff was the best (and cheapest). The others were too strong and took much longer to make. In fact, the last one was taking so long, I knew I’d run out if I didn’t expedite the process so I added double the beans.

If one wants to have organic vanilla extract, from my pricing research it seems cheaper to buy it already made. Organic vanilla beans and organic alcohol are very expensive. Azure Standard sells a gallon of DOUBLE strength (2x) organic vanilla…,Madagascar variety (double means it’s twice as vanilla-y so you can use less and make your purchase go even farther!) for $97.05. While it’s not as satisfying as something you made yourself, it’s more wallet, health & Earth friendly.

Was this cost effective, or is it just something special to make for others? Just wondering, as the price at Costco for vanilla is very good and I haven’t found one that can beat it. But I have no idea how much vodka costs. I know vanilla beans are expensive, though.

Is there a special grade of vanilla bean you should buy? Or can you use grade B or others? Just curious. Also, why do you have to put it in a Jar? Can’t you take some of the vodka out and use the vodka bottom instead? Thanks. I am going to make this!!!!

What an interesting idea! I have never considered making my own vanilla. I’m still wondering how cost-effective this would be though because they charge SO much for vanilla beans where I’m from. I like the idea of giving it as a gift though, so I’m going to seriously consider this. Thanks for the idea!

Laura,
I am born and raised in Georgia, where alcohol is ONLY sold at liquor stores. My husband is from Missouri- where alcohol is EVERYWHERE! IN WALMART!!! I love your homemade vanilla recipe, but moreso, I love your horror in taking your CHILDREN to buy vodka!!! :) I went to MO for the first time and I had never seen anything like it, I was horrified. People were putting tequila in carts with babies sitting in the cart! I could not believe it! Love the homemade vodka recipe, and thought you might get a giggle knowing there are people out there who are as horrified at the idea of standing in line with their children to buy alcohol as you are! I am glad someone else understands! :)

LOL… I thought only PA was like that. We can only be alcohol in the liquor store too!! luckily there’s a liquor store across the street from my job! I can run over when I need to buy a bottle of wine for dinner or company!

Hmmm, never made homemade vanilla either. Interesting!

Growing up I remember going to the liquor store w/my mom. lol And they “don’t touch that!”

Lol! I’m from MO too. When I needed to buy some Vodka for a mouthwash
recipe, I headed to Walmart (of course!) They didn’t have any. A long
search finally revealed that you can only buy it at the “Alchohol
Beverage Control” store. I was shocked.

I found the store, pulled into the wrong parking lot and bought some
vodka (and wasn’t even carded!)Then I had the dubious pleasure of
walking down the side of a very busy road with a baby in one arm and a
brown bag in the other.

Here’s another place to buy your vanilla beans from: http://www.saffron.com They charge about $30 including shipping for a POUND of chef-quality vanilla beans. Based on this price, I have calculated that a gallon of vanilla extract will cost roughly $90 (paying $30 per 1.75L of vodka) or 1.31 per oz of vanilla extract. That cost doesn’t include the 1/4lb of “leftover” beans which could be used to make vanilla sugar or a smaller bottle of extract (a 750 mL bottle of vodka would be just about the right size). At my local stores, you can usually find real vanilla extract for $2, $1.50 if you’re REALLY lucky!

Another thing to think about- Alton Brown mentioned something about passing cheap vodka through a Brita filter to “refine” it for drinking- so I imagine that the taste would be improved if you do this with the cheap vodka. (it was on an episode of Good Eats dedicated to bloody marys I think!)

Ignore my backwards math- I accidentally divided wrong. You’d actually be looking at spending $90 for 118 oz of vanilla- or about 75¢ per oz. I knew that it was more cost effective to do it, but my concentration skills aren’t up to par lately.

In regards to the filtering of cheap vodka: seems there are
questions out on the net about the safety of Brita filters for vodka…
Having said that, if you do choose to filter, you need to pass the
vodka through more than once….probably more like 3-5 times. So,
what is your time worth? Perhaps it is more cost-effective to use a
middle-grade/priced vodka. I do drink vodka on occasion, so I usually
have some Stoli available. Also consider how much do you really need
to make at one time……maybe a smaller 750ml bottle is the way to go.

Also, for those of you in the military, or with friends in the military
it may be cheaper for you to purchase your vodka from the PX.

I started mine at the end of April. I knew you had the recipe somewhere, but every search with “vanilla” in it brought up tons of your posts. I could not figure out how to find the post. Then I remembered that the method used vodka, and I KNEW that very few posts would come up if I searched your site for “vodka”. It worked! So if you noticed in your stats, around mid to late April, several searches for “vodka”, that would be me. :) The homemade vanilla is smelling wonderful!

Considering I just spent $22.13 for an 8 oz bottle of organic vanilla to get me through, this is a HUGE cost savings. However, the next time I make it I will probably try to find organic vodka. I didn’t think about it this time. I’ll have to research how they make vodka to decide if organic is important here. I am happy that this homemade vanilla won’t have any nasty colorings or flavorings though. Thanks for the recipe!

I just love making homemade vanilla. At the beginning of February I made 2 gallons! I bought my bottles and will sell some at the farmers market in July. They made great gifts last year at Christmas. BTW- I contacted the gal who designs labels that you told us about and she will make me some labels.
Laura;
I sure enjoy your blog. YOu are a blessing!

This might be a silly question – but if you are not planning on giving any of the first batch of vanilla away – and we are planning on keeping it and using it – do you happen to know what the shelf life is??? Just curious! Vanilla is very hard to find out here at a resonable price. One 4 oz jar is $10. to $15.!!! So we only use it on special occasions! Can’t wait to start putting it back into everything!!!

I read most of the comments, but didn’t see anyone asking this, it sounds like people are having a hard time finding glass jars. some vodkas are already sold in a glass jar, so I’m wondering if anyone has just tried pouring a bit of the vodka out to leave room in the big vodka jar for adding beans, and then just add half the beans to the vodka jug (since the original recipe called for 2 full jars of vodka) This should work fine right? And then I won’t have to find a big gallon jar someplace. lol. Has anyone tried this? Oh and then I’d probably use a recycled pickle jar or something to put a few beans and the poured out vodka in as to not waste it. Sorry I just can’t think of any place to get a gallon sized glass jar, and I don’t think plastic would be the same. lol

sorry one more question, I read on one of your posts that this is a lot stronger than store bought vanilla, and that you would probably use half of what a recipe called for. Do you then let your gift recipients know to use half, or do they just use the same amount and have a richer flavor? I’m curious how people use it compared to store bought. Thanks for the post I can’t wait to try this!

Brieana-
I use Costco vanilla as well. I store mine in a dark cool cupboard. If you will look at your bottle you’ll see a use by date. The bottle I’m currently using says to use by 2015, so I don’t think you have any worries.